The George Sand-Gustave Flaubert Letters

LXVIII. To George Sand

At last, at last, I have news of you, dear master, and good news, which is doubly agreeable.

I am planning to return to my home in the country with Madame Sand, and my mother hopes that will be the case. What
do you say? For, with all that goes on, we never see each other, confound it!

As for my moving, it is not that I lack the desire of being free to move about. But I should be lost if I stirred
before I finish my novel. Your friend is a man of wax; everything gets imprinted on him, is encrusted on him,
penetrates him. If I should visit you, I should think of nothing but you and yours, your house, your country, the
appearance of the people I had met, etc. I require great efforts to gather myself together; I always tend to scatter
myself. That is why, dear adored master, I deprive myself of going to sit down to dream aloud in your house. But, in
the summer or autumn of 1869, you shall see what a fine commercial traveller I am, once let loose to the open air. I am
abject, I warn you.

As to news, there is a quiet once more since the Kerveguen incident has died its beautiful death. Was it not a
farce? and silly?

Sainte-Beuve is preparing a lecture on the press law. He is better, decidedly. I dined Tuesday with Renan. He was
marvellously witty and eloquent, and artistic! as I have never seen him. Have you read his new book? His preface causes
talk. My poor Theo worries me. I do not think him strong.